National Republican., 1887-11-21
Financler and Statesman.

This country has had at the head of the
Treasury Department three, and only three,
great financiers, and each Of them was
also great in other matters Of statecraft.
These three were Alexander Hamilton,
Salmon p. Chase, and John Sherman, and
not the least Of these is John Sherman.
Mr.. Sherman's career as representative,
senator, and Secretary OF the Treasury
place him among the foremost OF living
American pubicists, and his words, de-
liberately spoken, are we'll worth careful
consideration by the great body Of the
American people. And this the more
carefully because Of his known prudence
in giving utterance to his sentiments.
In late interview which hears the i'm
press Of careful thought, Senator Sherman
laid down certain propositions to which we
desire to call attention and which are
worthy OF the profoundest thought by the
people Of the whole country, because they
are the great questions OF the day. The
Senator said:
/ have simple platform: First, the protec.
tion of American industries, and second the
count ofthe vote fairly as cast IN the southern
states. ] am willing to forget the war and for
give those who participated In IT. butt the time
has now come, in my judgment. to protect the
colored men of the south in their political
rights, to have their votes fairly counted and
delivered. It Is wholly within the
power OF Congress to provide the machinery
for a fair election in the south. 1t is notori-
ousy known that the negro vote of the south
is not counted where II is prejudicial to Demo
ttp Ithi hit,Ir haa
for Congress to assert its authority. would
lave boards OF election to see that the vote IN
every state, north and south, was fairly
counted. l would have the expenses of sucl
boards paid out OF the national treasury, and
would have their duties specifically prescribed
by Congress.
No one, north or south, who has the
slightest regard for the truth denies the
proposition Of the senator, that "the negro
vote Of the south is not counted
when 1t is preiudiclal to Dem
ocratic results.n or course this asser
ton Is made and must be considered, In Its
broadest sense, to include those section:
where the vote is not counted because 1t 1;
not cast, as in Mississippi and Georgia, fol
the reason that negro voting is not permit
tel as 1t would be "prejudlcial to Demo
cratic results.n
The white people Of the south are inter.
csted In changing this condition of affairs
because the fact is threat to the stability
Of our institutions. The people OF til,
north are as much bound In honor to secur
the negro his vote and fair count of It, q
they are bound In honor TO pay the deb
created by the war, or pensions to the sol
diers Of the war.
All these things, the debt, the necessit,
for pensions, and the privilege Of voting 70
the negroes of the south are equally the re-
suits OF war. The last was given as FIRE,
gift by the people OF the north to protec
the other two from the attacks OF thos,
who bad endeavored to destroy the govern.
ment, and political cowardice has allowed
1t to be turned into an instrument to attacl
and destroy them. Senator Sherman cor
rectly charGcterizes as cowardly furthe
continuance Of such conduct,
The time has come, as Senator Sherman
sAys, for the Republicans Of the north Il
assert themselves on this subject. 1t Is mo-
only cOwardly, but dishonest to delay an
longer. Besides, this crime OF vote sup
preston is greater danger to the countr,
than the rawlings OF a few half crazed anarch
lists, for which few were hanged and som,
are In the pententlary. 1t lessons respect
for representative form Of government
and In that Is more dangerous than all tn,
anarchists Of the country.
Whether the remedy proposed by Senate
Sherman is the correct one or not Is ques'
tlon to be determined when tho Republican
party, by uniting on this question, once
more obtains possession Of all the branehe!
Of the federal government.
OF the Republican policy Of protection
Senator Sherman sald
The aim ought to be to tax all foreign i'm
poItations with which the American product
can not comTote. Let in free all goods IN
which America Is not thrown In competition
and likewise make tree all the articles which
are the neceSarles Of life. In nutshell, let
come In free everything we can not make
Put tax on that which we can make, so that
the American manufacturer can pay his work
men better waSes than are paid in Europe
This Is the sum and substance of protection.
This definition Of the Republican idea IL
comprehensive and correct except In the
uee Of a single word, which to some extent
conveys an incorrect idea Of the effect Of